May 2023
One Lap Around Singapore
13 Hours | 174 km | 2,978 m Elev. Gain
Coming off my 4000 km bikepacking trip in Japan, I was confident in my legs. I was so confident, that cycling the perimeter of Singapore seemed like a fun way to spend the day. All I can say is, Singapore’s heat and humidity humbled me to my core..
Looking back there are many ways to make this ride easier. Nevertheless, I’m happy I didn’t stop midway because the best part of the ride was saved for the end.
I set off on my ride around Singapore at the rental shop in East Coast Park, where I got the cheapest bicycle with a bottle holder, a lock, and a helmet. It was already 8:30, and the people working out at the parks were starting to head home. I started riding west, in a clockwise direction, to get the hardest part of the ride done early. The heat and humidity were so bad, I was dripping in sweat five minutes into the ride.
For breakfast, I got some fried noodles and a classic Singaporean breakfast of Kaya(coconut jam) toast and Kopi(coffee with condensed milk). Note that Kaya toast comes with a half-boiled egg, which is supposed to be poured into the bowl for dipping. Kaya toast may be one of the best breakfast dishes that exists.
By 11 the heat was getting pretty brutal. On the island resort, Sentosa, I could feel the heat radiating from the pavement below me. There were a few moments when I felt seriously light-headed, and had to slow down and cool off. One thing that saved my life in this heat, was Barley water. Barley water is super hydrating and can be found in almost any hawker center (Singapore-style food courts), making it a reliable drink on these extremely hot days in Singapore.
For lunch, I got some duck rice and duck noodles. Simple and filling.
I did not enjoy the first 1/3 of this ride, as the traffic was intense and the views were all industrial. The views got a lot better as I rode North, going through the military base and farmland. It was probably the most rural area in Singapore, although a 20-minute drive can get you back to the city.
As I followed the North Coast, I came across the bridge to Malaysia, which was full of traffic. I was surprised, by the number of people commuting to Singapore to work every day.
My favorite part of the ride came at the very end after the sun had set. I had just reached the Punggol area, and I could feel the air cooling down a little bit. From Punggol, there is a nature path that follows the coast to East Coast Park, where I started. This beautiful path goes through many parks and has few signals making it perfect for cyclists. Seeing the local cyclists going fast, gave me the second wind I needed to finish the ride.
I ended up finishing a lot later than I had expected, but I was pretty satisfied. I was just happy to finish the ride on a high note.
Overall, the ride around Singapore is not fun. The views are not impressive, the traffic is horrible(in some areas), and the heat is pure misery. If you still want to do it, plan a little better than I did, and it will be a bit more enjoyable.
Special Thanks to Uncle Sybor for hosting me, and introducing me to some amazing Singaporean dishes.
